Death by Betrayal (Book #10 in the Caribbean Murder series)

by Jaden Skye

  “Yes, he did,” Cindy didn’t like it. Evan was watching her too closely. Why?

  “You guys an item?” Evan kept probing.

  Cindy was caught short. “Mattheus and I have been partners a long time,” she replied.

  “Being partners is not the same as being an item,” Evan refused to leave it alone.

  Cindy couldn’t go there though. “I can’t deal with that now while I’m working on my sister’s murder,” she said in a clipped tone. “It’s not even fair to ask.”

  Evan smiled. “I’m sorry,” he said, “and I got my answer. Listen, I’m a patient guy.”

  “What kind of answer did you get?” Cindy felt confused.

  “No one who’s an item says they need time to think about it. When you’re an item, you’re an item.” Evan seemed pleased.

  “You’re jumping to conclusions,” said Cindy, worried about what he was reading into her response.

  “Look, I just want what’s best for you, “Evan replied. “For now, just keep the pressure up on Beggio. A lot of people will be helped once Beggio gets busted.”

  “I will,” said Cindy, glancing at her watch, “and I have to go now.”

  “Where?” Evan asked, irritated.

  “Mattheus and I are meeting back over there in a few minutes,” said Cindy. “He’s been talking to others. Now we de-brief.”

  “You’re going to tell him you saw me?” asked Evan.

  “Of course I am,” Cindy answered. “Everything is grist for the mill. We have no secrets between us ever, none at all.”

  *

  When Mattheus and Cindy met once again in the designated place, the day had grown a bit overcast. But the crowds didn’t notice, the cheers kept rising as different boats came in. Mattheus rushed towards Cindy quickly, happy to see her again.

  “I think we’ve spent enough time here for now,” said Mattheus, taking her elbow and gently leading her across the hill, away from the commotion. “Frank’s not hanging out here, and we need to find him.”

  “Was this a waste of time?” Cindy asked, allowing herself to be led by Mattheus away from the crowds.

  “Not in the long run,” he replied. “Even if it seems like a waste of time, I know it’s ultimately not. Something someone said can ring a bell later. None of the women I spoke to seemed to know who Frank was or where he was staying. How about you? Find anything at all?”

  “Well, believe it or not,” Cindy said, suddenly chirpy, “I ran into Evan Price, or rather he ran into me.”

  “Really?” Mattheus was taken aback.

  “It was useful,” Cindy continued. “He’s interested in the investigation, so I told Price about Frank’s hidden cell phone. He said everyone in Bermuda had one. It’s no big deal. He also said to stay away from Grenfield – that the guy’s famous for planting false leads.”

  “Whoah,” Mattheus held his hand up. “That’s quite a statement coming from Price. Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black. Believe it or not, Grenfield said the same thing about Price. Those guys can’t stand each other.”

  Cindy laughed, “I’m not at all surprised,” she said. “Everyone here talks behind everyone else’s back.”

  “There’s a web down here and all these guys are involved in it,” Mattheus muttered. “I happen to like Grenfield myself, and you seem to like Price.”

  “I wouldn’t say that I like him,” Cindy interrupted. “But he feels solid to me. He wants to help us, but I realize he also wants those hotel murders solved. They’re casting some kind of shadow on him, even if he’s not directly involved.”

  “How do you know he’s not involved? He could be,” said Mattheus. “And I thought you said he didn’t think that Ann’s death had anything to do with those murders anyway.”

  “He said that,” said Cindy, “and I agree. But it also seems as if Beggio was involved with those murders and that Ann could have inadvertently gotten caught in Beggio’s web.”

  “How exactly?” asked Mattheus.

  “I don’t know, I’m not sure yet,” said Cindy.

  “Well, Grenfield is close to Beggio,” Mattheus remarked. “He’s by far the best lead we’ve got so far. If there’s any connection between Frank and Beggio, Grenfield will help me find it.”

  Cindy suddenly grew very quiet. The direction they were heading in seemed circuitous. She felt as though they were walking around in a maze. Mattheus grew quieter as well as they approached the long line of taxis waiting for customers.

  “Our number one focus now is to talk to Frank,” said Mattheus. “And, at the very least, we’ve got to get into his computer and see what’s doing.”

  “Easier said than done,” said Cindy.

  “There’s got to be a way we can break in,” Mattheus started ruminating. “Worse comes to worse we can brainstorm and figure out his password.”

  Cindy liked the idea. She’d rather get into his computer surreptitiously without Frank finding out. Then they’d see for themselves if there was even a reason to grill him any further. Her guess was that there would be nothing much on it, it would clear him, ease things up.

  “I like that idea,” Cindy perked up instantly, “Let’s go for it.”

  “Great,” Mattheus was right on board. “Let’s start with the password to Ann’s computer. Do you happen know it? What was it?” he asked.

  “Sunshine10,” Cindy suddenly remembered, filled with sadness.

  “Lots of husbands and wife synchronize their passwords,” Mattheus mused.

  Cindy hadn’t heard that, it was a strange idea to her. Actually she and Ann had somewhat synchronized their passwords.

  “Ann and I did something like that,” Cindy mentioned then. “Her password was sunshine and mine Rainforest. We figured you needed both sun and rain.”

  “Really?” Mattheus was encouraged, as he lifted his arm to hail a cab he hailed a cab down. “It sounds like we’re on the right track. Let’s go right back to the room this second, keep brainstorming and try a bunch of passwords. Sooner or later we’ll crack the code.”

  *

  Once back at the hotel they went straight up to Cindy’s room where Frank’s computer was being stored. They opened it quickly, leaned over it together and started guessing at passwords.

  “What’s the opposite of sunshine? Dark clouds?” asked Mattheus.

  “Try it,” said Cindy.

  It didn’t work.

  “Keep going,” said Mattheus. “Give me more ideas.”

  “Thunder, storm, dark night, evening,” Cindy breathed.

  They tried each one and nothing happened.

  “Her password was Sunshine10 – try Sunshine20.”

  Another bust.

  “Combine two words,” Mattheus directed.

  “Stormnight, darksun, eveningthunder,” Cindy called out.

  Mattheus tried each one, but nothing yielded. The computer stayed dead locked.

  “Frank always called Ann an angel,” said Cindy, unwilling to be defeated. “How about that? Annangel? Try it.”

  Mattheus tried and it didn’t work.

  I’ve got to find it, I’ve got to find, I’ve got to find it, Cindy fervently murmured to herself.

  Suddenly in a blaze something hit Cindy. “Wait a minute,” she said. “Why would Frank have a password that was the opposite of my sister? He felt close to her his whole life long. Her password was sunshine10 - how about sunshine11?”

  “Try it,” Mattheus acquiesced.

  Cindy typed it in and to her total amazement, it hit the spot. The computer opened. They both stared at it.

  “Divine intervention,” whispered Cindy.

  “What are the chances we figured this out?” Mattheus was open mouthed.

  “It’s a sign,” Cindy breathed.

  “A sign that we’re smart and gutsy,” said Mattheus.

  “A sign that someone is helping,” Cindy trembled.

  “A sign that we’re on the right track,” said Mattheus.

  “The passw
ord just came to me out of the blue,” Cindy replied. “There have to be angels lending a hand.”

  Chapter 17

  First they scrolled through Frank’s emails. As Cindy expected they were routine and dull. Mostly business appointments scheduled back in the States, without one mention of Beggio. There were also a few scattered emails from Ann asking what time he’d be home, and telling him what they were having for dinner.

  “Boring, if you asked me,” Mattheus murmured, rubbing his forehead.

  “See, I told you,” Cindy murmured. “There’s nothing in Frank’s life that’s dramatic or hidden, he’s an open book. We’re on the wrong track with him.”

  “Maybe yes, maybe no,” Mattheus squinted his eyes. “He could be storing hot, secret emails on his unknown cell phone for all we know.”

  “There’s nothing hot about Frank,” Cindy insisted.

  “Could be, we never know,” Mattheus smiled.

  “Could be is just conjecture,” Cindy responded, annoyed.

  “True enough,” Mattheus leaned closer to Cindy, ruffling her hair with his hand. “I remember the day I taught you that.”

  Cindy smiled back, “I do, too,” she responded. “You were a great teacher.”

  “You were a fantastic student,” Mattheus replied. “Beautiful and adorable, just like today. And gutsy, very gutsy.”

  Cindy felt waves of love coming from Mattheus towards her.

  “Let’s go look at Frank’s Facebook page now,” Mattheus went on, conspiratorially.

  They quickly flipped to Frank’s Facebook page and scrolled along slowly. In some ways Frank’s page resembled Ann’s. The same photos of the two of them were posted, along with the restaurants they enjoyed going to. There were also photos of the same couples with them.

  “There’s nothing here,” Cindy whispered, gratefully. “Same old thing, dull, dull, dull.”

  “Wait a minute, don’t be so quick,” Mattheus pulled the computer over to him. “Let me check his messages and responses.”

  Cindy leaned back and closed her eyes briefly. Mattheus wouldn’t find anything, she would surely be vindicated. She’d known Frank practically her entire life and though they’d never gotten on so well, he’d always been a pillar of stability. That was one of the things that Ann loved so much about him. It was impossible that Frank could remain a suspect. Then the challenge would be to go deeper and see how Ann’s horrible death took place. Cindy thought she’d probably have to go back and talk more to Evan Price. There was no way he’d told her all he possibly knew about the murders at the hotel.

  “Whoah, look at this,” Mattheus suddenly said.

  Cindy opened her eyes quickly. “What?”

  “The day before Ann was killed, Frank defriended a woman on Facebook.”

  “Really?” Cindy sat up straighter and crammed closer to the computer. “Who?”

  “That’s something we’ve got to find out, don’t we?” Mattheus breathed.

  “Do you know how to do that?” Cindy asked, agitated. She never would have expected that from Frank.

  “It’ll take a little while,” said Mattheus.

  Cindy stood up. “Why in the world would Frank do that?” she spoke to herself out loud.

  “Lots of possible reasons,” said Mattheus as he worked with the computer. “It’s not only that he defriended her though, it’s that the time he did it that’s significant – the day before Ann died.”

  Cindy took a deep, painful breath, suddenly remembering her mother’s words that all men stray sooner or later. It seemed impossible to think that of Frank, though.

  “Listen, we’ve got to give the computer to the police and let their experts help out, right away,” Mattheus seemed to feel as though they’d hit gold.

  “No, Mattheus,” Cindy’s voice rose quickly. “We can’t do that.”

  “Cindy, this is a murder investigation,” Mattheus stood up quickly. “It’s a serious piece of information. We have to share it. The police can go further with it, check into her possible networks.”

  “The police will use it to get Frank,” Cindy practically started sobbing, suddenly feeling like a traitor to the family. “They’ll reel Frank in. Let me call my mom first and see if she knows where Frank is so we can talk to him first. Let’s give him a chance - for Ann’s sake anyway.”

  “We’re finding the killer for Ann’s sake,” Mattheus reminded Cindy.

  “But Ann would want us to give Frank a chance, to talk to him first,” Cindy’s voice was practically breaking.

  “Okay, go ahead, call your mother. See if she knows where Frank is, and I’ll keep trying to find out who the person is that he defriended.”

  Cindy rushed to the phone, called her mother and was tremendously relieved when she picked right up.

  “Mom, where is Frank right now?” Cindy asked urgently.

  “I have no idea,” her mother replied, taken aback by Cindy’s tone.

  “Mattheus and I need to talk to him this second,” Cindy answered breathless. “Things don’t look good.”

  “Why? What’s happened?” her mother sounded aghast.

  “I’m not going into details,” said Cindy, “but believe me. There’s trouble here.”

  “You found that Frank had a girlfriend?” her mother asked, alarmed, almost as though she’d expected it.

  “I can’t say what we’ve found,” Cindy could barely respond.

  “Be careful, Cindy, don’t go too far,” her mother shot back wildly. “Enough is enough.”

  “We have to find the truth, we have to find the killer,” Cindy replied fervently.

  “Cindy,” her mother started yelling. “It’s not just Frank’s life you’ll be destroying but mine, too.”

  Cindy quieted down momentarily. “It’s not in my hands anymore, mom” she whispered on the phone.

  “Oh yes, it is,” said her mother. “You couldn’t save your sister, but you can save the family. You have influence, Cindy. Use it.”

  Cindy held the phone in her hand horrified. Was her mother asking her to lie, or hide important evidence? Didn’t she want her daughter’s killer brought to justice?

  “I know you’ll do it, for my sake, Cindy,” her mother started whimpering suddenly. “Promise me you will. Promise.”

  Cindy hung up the phone then without saying another word. This was a promise she couldn’t and wouldn’t make, ever. But her mother’s words hung on her heavily, nevertheless.

  “My mom doesn’t know where Frank is,” Cindy finally said to Mattheus.

  “Didn’t think she would,” he murmured his head in the computer.

  Cindy walked to the window to look out over the beautiful ocean that was spread out before her. It was hard to believe her mother had made a request like that of her. Cindy realized that she barely knew her mother at all; now it even seemed as though she lived in a world of her own. Cindy had no idea what would happen to her mother when the reality hit home.

  “Oh boy, oh boy,” Mattheus suddenly shouted. “I found it. Found her! Come here, Cindy, quick, take a look at this!”

  Oh my God, Cindy trembled as she rushed to the computer, her heart in her hands.

  “I don’t believe it!” Mattheus’s voice got louder.

  “Who is it?” Cindy leaned over and to her amazement, there was a photo of Ronnelle, the woman she’d seen at Beggio’s party. “This is the one Frank defriended?” Cindy couldn’t believe her eyes.

  “I saw her, I know her,” Mattheus continued methodically, “I met this woman at the races. I spoke to her briefly. She was with that woman Linda you introduced me to. She’s a single woman and she was flirting with me.”

  “What was going on between her and Frank on Facebook?” Cindy dove in.

  “I can’t find that yet - but the police will,” said Mattheus, “not only that, they’ll find out everything about her, including her connection to Frank. Why she even on Frank’s Facebook page?”

  Cindy clutched her hands to her heart. “It could ha
ve just been business,” she mumbled, trying to keep her world from falling apart further.

  “Could have is conjecture,” Mattheus said adamantly. “Frank defriended her for a reason. And, if I recall properly, this beauty told me she had no idea who Frank was.”

  Cindy quickly remembered her encounter with Ronnelle at Beggio’s party. “She told me that as well,” Cindy added.

  “She lied to both of us,” Mattheus was fortified and quickly took out his cell phone.

  “Don’t call the police this minute,” Cindy tried to stop him, but he held up his hand emphatically.

  “Cut it out, Cindy. This is serious business. We’re not hiding a thing,” he declared.

  *

  Mattheus moved out onto the patio as he spoke with the police. Cindy thought for a moment of following after him and listening in, but she couldn’t bear it. This piece of news struck like a knife. Was it actually possible that Frank had been involved with another woman? Cindy had a sinking feeling about it, feeling primarily awful for Ann. Was there any chance that Ann had known about Ronnelle? Had she and Frank talked about it? Had Ann actually known her killer that horrible afternoon when she fought for her life?

  Mattheus walked back into the room, looking drawn and sullen.

  “What did the police say?” Cindy asked haltingly.

  “Are you up for news?” Mattheus asked coming over to her, taking her arm and leading her to a chair to sit down.

  “Do I have a choice?” asked Cindy. “Can I make life go back to the way it was if I say no, don’t tell me anything?”

  “Nothing goes backwards. You have no choice,” answered Mattheus.

  “So tell me,” said Cindy, her voice dipping.

  “The police have been checking Frank’s unknown cell number. There are lots of calls on it from an untraceable number – someone with a temporary phone. That’s how Beggio’s operated in the past. He contacts his people with temporary cell phones. The police definitely fee that the caller on Frank’s phone is connected with Beggio. When I told them about Ronnelle being defriended on Frank’s page, Trage was thrilled, said that was big news. The police are going to check her phone and everything else about her. In a little while they’ll let us know her whereabouts, and for starters, either you or I have to talk to her again.”